Releasable sliders for slide fasteners



Feb. 5, 1957 H. A. SIMPSON RELEASABLE SLIDERS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Aug. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. A. SIMPSON 2, 79,988

RELEASABLE SLIDERS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 5, 1957 Filed Aug. 2'7, 1952 jar/2 f 22 6'6 60 v %Q 4a ,JW/ 6/ llllllllt Sr 5 J5 2g 5'6 L, 4 .2? 29 fiW/i 2259 A TIOIPNEY United States Patent RELEASABLE SLIDERS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Henry A. Simpson, Oviedo, Fla., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,549

19 Claims. (Cl. 24--205.15)

This invention relates to slide fasteners, to sliders therefor and, in particular, to the provision of new and improved slide fastener sliders provided with means rendering the interlocking member or scoop guiding channels thereof selectively adjustable for facilitating the freeing of the sliders from clothing or other foreign materials or objects caught therein and/ or removal of the sliders from the interlocking members or rows of scoops and their supporting stringer tapes which form the fastener stringers upon which the slider is supported for longitudinal sliding movement in opposite directions to close and open the fastener.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a new and improved slide fastener slider which comprises a pair of similar plates or wings which, with selectively adjustable neck or wedge forming connecting means, form an upwardly diverging channel which progressively guides the interlocking members or rows of scoops of a slide fastener into and out of engagement, manual actuation of the connecting means efi'ecting automatic spreading of the wings to a predetermined desired relative spacing, or relative spacings, for loosening the slider upon its supporting interlocking members or rows of scoops in order to facilitate release of the slider from materials or objects caught therein or, depending upon the aforesaid relative spacing desired, from the stringers of the fastener.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider wherein the plates or wings are yieldingly stressed apart, or spread apart, and wherein the spacing, separation, or distance at which they are spread, is controlled by manual means including conveniently engageable trigger means which defines one or more positive spread positions or spacings of the plates or wings, which positions or spacings are taken or assumed by the wings automatically upon selective manual operation of the aforesaid trigger means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider wherein the normal spacing of the parallel plates or wings may be increased in slight increments to effect looser fit of the slider on the interlocking members or scoops, for adapting the slider to fasteners of various manufacturers which often have slightly varying dimensions, merely by relieving surfaces on the trigger means or operatively associated with surfaces of the trigger means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider wherein the spreading means and associated trigger or spacing control means in preferred embodiments thereof are totally independent of the handle, bail, or pull means by which the slider is normally moved along the stringers to open and close the fastener, thus absolutely preventing accidental, or unintentional releasing of the slider or spreading of its plates or wings through manipulation of the handle, bail, or pull means of the slider, while relieving the handle, bail or. pull member trunnions of excessive Wear,strain and destruc- 2,779,988 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 "ice tive forces often encountered in known commercial sliders of the same general type.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such a slider which is of extremely simple construction, capable of manufacture in various materials by various known methods such as casting, molding, blanking or coining, and combinations thereof, which slider is strong, eflicient in operation, relatively unsusceptible to wear, and extremely convenient to operate.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the following specification, taken with the drawing forming a part "thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view illustrating one preferred form of slider according to this invention as applied to a well known form of slide fastener of the toothed or interdigitating type;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the slider of Fig. l partly in elevation and partly in section, taken substantially along the planes indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, the slider parts being shown in their normal, operative, position;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 with the slider parts shown in the normal, operative, position of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the slider parts in the fully released position permitting its removal from the fastener;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the slider parts in the position of Fig. 4 and illustrating the detachment of the slider from its supporting stringers, the pull tab being omitted in the interest of clear disclosure;

Fig. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the slider of Figs. 1-5 with the top or front wing shown in longitudinal section and the pull tab omitted in the interest of clear position;

Fig. 8 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3 but showing the slider of Fig. 7 with the parts in the position of Fig. 7 for facilitating release of the slider from the material of a garment box plait shown entangled or caught therein;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating a manner in which the latch or trigger member may be secured pivotally to the slider body with elimination of the pivot pin shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7;

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a modification of the pull tab and latch or trigger member for operation of the latter member through manipulation of the pull tab;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of releasable and removable slide fastenerslider of the so-called clamshell type according to this invention, the fastener stringers being omitted in the interest of clear disclosure;

Fig. 12 is a section in elevation of the modification of Fig. 11, taken substantially along the plane designated by the line 12--12 in Fig. 11, with the pull tab omitted in the interest of clear disclosure;

Fig. 13 is a rear or top end view, in elevation, of the slider shown in Figs. 11 and 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the slider of Figs. 11-13 taken substantially along the plane indicated by 'the line 14--14 in Fig. 11 and showing the relationship between fastener stringers and the slider parts in normal operative position;

Fig. is a View similar to Fig. 12 of the slider of Figs. 11-14 but showing the slider parts in the fully released position, with the biasing or loading spring cut away in the interest of clear disclosure; and

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14 of the slider of Figs. 1145, with the slider parts in the p'ositionof Fig. 15. Heretofore, many attempts have been made to manufacture slide fasteners of such accuracy andprecision that the sliders thereof cannot be untracked or accidentally jammed on their supporting stringers which, in the case of toothed or interdigitating fasteners as shown in Fig. 1 comprise stringer tapes with attached rows of interengageable spaced elements or scoops and'which", inthe case of non-interdigitating or slide operated strip fasteners comprise stringer tapes with attached continuous interlocking members of uniform cross-section (not shown). However, inaccuracies in the interlocking members caused by imperfections in tooling and other factors in known methods of manufacture; coupled with the degree of clearance necessary between sliders and interlocking members for reasonably smooth and easy operation of the fasteners, and failure on the part of manufacturers and users fully to understand the limitations of such fasteners, has resulted in a rather surprising degree of failure to attain the desired end result.

Furthermore; because of the degree of loosenss of fit of the sliders on the interlocking members necessary for acceptable ease and smoothness of operation, it has likewise proved virtually impossible to prevent widespread catching of sliders in clothing and other materials and objects encountered by the mouths of the slider charinels. This is so prevalent and troublesome in some slide fastener clothing applications as, for instance, the side under arm applications in sheer womens garments, that the extreme remedies attempted have even included reinforcement of the sheer box plaits overlying or overlapping the fastener sliders with relatively heavy and inflexible tapes and/or cords which, in addition to being expensive, are often unsightly. None of the attempted expedients hasproven entirely satisfactory.

Since the above described untracking and catching cannot be avoided or obviated to a satisfactory degree, the alternative remedy has been recognized as provision of some means for materially increasing the clearance between sliders and interlocking members to facilitate release or a caught slider or for increasing the clearance to an even greater extent for total "removal of the slider from the fastener in the case of untracking or catching.

l leretoforqslidershave been manufactured with pl'at es or wings which wereentlrely detachable and thus separable bu-t this was found undesirable since their reassembly to one anotherand to the fastener stringers was tedious anddifiicult. Furthermore, accidental releases were incidentsof the manner inwhich the means by which the parts were locked in normal operative position or re leased therefrom was actuatedby the bail or pull tab by which the slider was moved on the fastener stringers to perform its normal function. Because of the relative fr'angibility of the pull tab trunnions, breakage or displacement thereof was'frequenh In other cases, operajof such pull tab actuated means was required 'great strength, dexterity, and, in extreme cases,

theaid of special tools and/or equipment.

H {According 'to this invention, I have eliminated the jab oveobjections and disadvantages by providing connect- 'ing means between the front and rear plates orwings of .my. slider by which the spacing therebetweenfand the depth of the interlocking member guide channel'formed erably housed by the neck or Wedge forming wingcon- 4 necting means, which acts automatically upon manual actuation of the control means to effect increase of wing spacing by steps, or the decrease thereof, by predetermined positive steps virtually automatically, requiring only the exertion of squeezing pressure on the plates or wings of the slider to effect a reduction of wing spacing.

The biasing and wing spacing control means are totally independent of the handle, bail, or pull means, which insures that no accidental release can occur through manipulation of the bail or pull means in their operation and that no excessive strains or forces are applied to the pull members or their bearings. The substantial bearing surface engagement of the members forming the plate or Wing connection likewise insures that the rigidity, parallelism and relative alignment of the plates or wings in their operative position shall be unaffected throughout the long life of the slider.

Because of the arrangement of the spacing control means independently of the handle, pull tab, or bail means of the slider, the principles of this invention may be incorporated, with ease, in manual locking and automatic lock sliders of widely varying types without modification of the locking means or arrangements thereof.

Furthermore, the trigger, latch, or wing spacing control means is readily accessible, engageable and operable by the fingernail, for instance, of a user, the operation of releasing or spreading the slider wings or plates being so simple and convenient as to be virtually instinctive.

The embodiments of my invention herein illustrated are particularly adapted for use in toothed or interdigitating slide fasteners of the well-known type shown in Figs. 1, 3-, 5 and 8, which comprise right and left'hand stringers 15 and 16 each comprising a flexible tape 17 with a reinforced edge 18 having a row of complementary interdig'itating fastener members or scoops 19 secured thereto in predetermined spaced relation and in known manner. The embodiment of my slider, generally designated '20 in Figs. 1-10, is provided with a manually eng'ageable handle, bail, fingerpiece, or pull tab 21 pivotally attached to the lug 22 in known manner by which the slider '20 is moved upwardly and downwardly upon the supporting rows of scoops 19 to close and open the fastener.

As shown particularly in Figs. 16, the slider body comprises spaced similar obverse plates or wings 23 and 24 connected at their upper ends by telescopic, expansible neck or wedge forming means, generally designated 25, which means maintains the Wings 23 and 24 always in substantially exact parallelism irrespective of their spacing. The lug 22 upon which the pull tab 21 is pivoted is integral with, or fixed to, the wing 23 which may be termed the front or top wing. The other, obverse, wing 24 may likewise be termed the back or bottom wing. The neck or wedge forming means, generally designated 25, cooperates with marginal side flanges 26 of the wings 23 and 24 to form an upwardly diverging scoop or fastener member guide channel in which the rows of scoops 19 of the stringers 15 and 1.6 are confined and bywhich they are guided progressively into and out of interlocking engagement upon movement of the slider 20 longitudinally of the stringers in opposite directions.

I will be readily understood, variation of the spacing 'ofthe wings 23 and 24 in predetermined increments will efiectcorresponding variation of the depth of the scoop "guiding channel formed between'the wings 23 and 24, and'the airfount'of looseness or clearanceprovide'd by 'the'channelfor the rows of scoops therebetween and withinf said channel (compare Figs. 3, 5 and 8).

The 'neck or wedge forming means, generally designated 25 inFi'gsf4 and 7, comprises a male boss, or stud mem- *ber-'27 extending "inwardly or rearwardly from the inner rfae of the fi'OntWi-ng-ZS and" perpendicular to the plane of th'e wing. Thismeinber isno'n-circular and is pa stea er a biasing or loading spring member 29,

Cooperating with the aforesaid male boss. or stud member 27 to form the wedge or neck is a female sleeve or socket forming member 3t extending inwardly or forwardly from the inner surface of the rear wing 24 and perpendicular to the plane of the wing (see Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7) with its outer side surfaces conforming to the generally wedge shaped scoop-engaging surfaces desired on the neck or wedge of the slider. The member is provided with a concentric axial socket 31 of section similar to the section of the male member 27 which is freely .slidable axially, though not rotatable, therein.

While the sections of the members 27 and complementary socket 31 have been shown as polygonal or pentagonal, any other non-circular sections or circular sections rendered non-rotatable by keys or splines may be used and are contemplated.

The members 27 and 30 are so located with respect to the wings 23 and 24 that corresponding parts of the wings such as the side flanges 26 are always in alignment and, likewise, the inner surfaces of the wings are always in parallelism irrespective of the wing spacing.

An aperture 32 aligned with the aforesaid bore 28 in the male member 27 provides access to the rearward end portion of the spring member 29 (Figs. 2, 4 and 7) for a purpose which will clearly appear hereinafter.

Offset by the wall 33 from the socket 31 which guides the member 27 is the groove or channel 34 which provides partial housing and support for the arm-like latch or trigger member or bar 40. The side walls 35 of this groove or channel 34 are provided with transversely aligned apertures 36 supporting the pivot pin 37 (Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7) or provided with indentations 38 (Fig. 9) to provide pivotal support of the member or bar 40.

The bar or member 40 is provided with a suitably located transverse bore 41 adapted to receive the abovedescribed pivot pin 37 (Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7) or the indentations 38 (Fig. 10) as will be readily understood.

-As explained above, the latch or trigger member or bar 40 is pivotally secured to the rear wing 24 in the channel 34. between the walls 35 thereof. This member 40 is of general L-section (Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7) the leg extending from its rearward end terminates in a spring engaging enlargement or head 42 which head projects through the above described aperture 32 into engagement with the rear end of the biasing spring or loading spring 29 (Figs. 2, 4 and 7).

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the main or forwardly projecting portion or leg 43 of the member 40 is provided with a pair of teeth, steps, or projections 44 and 46 which are offset longitudinally thereof and which teeth or projections are engageable selectively with the recessed step or tooth provided for that purpose in suitable location in the front wing 23 adjacent the pull tab supporting lug 22 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6).

At its upper or forward end the leg or portion 43 of the member 40 terminates in a fingerpiece 48 of suitable shape (and preferably knurled) for convenient engagement by the finger or nail of an operator for tilting the latch or trigger member clockwise about the axis defined by the bore 41 thereof against the yielding force exerted by the spring 29 which concurrently exerts a component tending to spread the wings 23 and 24.

Thus, with the parts in the normal operative position of Fig. 2, exertion of tilting force as shown in Fig. 4 will cause disengagement of the tooth 44 from the tooth orstep 47 (Fig. 2) and permit the spring 29 to spread the wings 23 and 24 until the tooth or step 47 is engaged by the next adjacent tooth 46 to secure the slider parts in the full released (removable) position of Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the space between adjacent side flanges 26is sufficient for passage of the scoops 19 of the stringers 15 and 16 to pass therebetween (Fig. 5).

In the preferred embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8, an in termediate tooth or projection 45 also has been provided between the above described teeth or projections 44 and 46 on the member 40. By engaging this intermediate (release) tooth 45 with the tooth or step 47, as shown in Fig. 7, the wings 23 and 24 are spread by the spring 29 a sufficient additional distance to provide such added clearance for the scoops 19 in the channel as to permit and facilitate the untangling or freeing of the scoops and the slider from material caught and wedged between scoops and slider while effectively preventing escape of the scoops from the guide channel.

Means is provided optionally for positively limiting the swinging movement of the latch or trigger member 40 in clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 7 comprising a suitable projection 42a extending longitudinally from the head portion 42 of the member 40 and complementary recess 42b in the rear wing member 24.

Fig. 8 shows the slider with the slider parts in the position of Fig. 7 in a fastener applied in a box-plait closure application. The righthand overlying flap 51 is in proper position as shown; however, the lefthand flap 52 has entered the mouth of one of the upwardly divergent branches of the slider channel and has become jammed and/0r packed between scoops and slider downwardly toward the throat of the channel Where the branches of the channel are united.

Having placed the slider parts in the position of Figs. 7 and 8, to provide suflicient added clearance in the channel (compare Figs. 3 and 8) the slider may be moved upwardly of the stringers 15 and 16 and the flap 52 freed without damage. As may be readily seen by comparison of Fig. 8 with Fig. 5, the spreading of the wings 23 and 24 in this intermediate releasing or uncatching position is insufiicient to permit accidental removing of the siider 20 from the stringers 15 and 16 due to the fact that the wings are not sufiiciently spaced apart and in such position to permit the scoops 19 from passing outwardly between the flanges 26 of the slider.

As shown in Fig. 10, if it is desired, despite the above described disadvantages of such operation, simple cam means 53 may be provided on the pull tab 21 for cooperation with suitable cam means such as the smooth linear cam surface 54 on member 40 for operation of the latch or trigger means directly through the pull tab 21. The advantages of such operation are questionable, as stated above, except in special cases where frequent operations for release (Figs. 7 and 8) or removal (Figs. 4 and 5 of the slider may be anticipated.

In the form or embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 11-16, the slider shown is of the clamshell type wherein the wings 23a and 24a are hingedly or pivotally connected at their upper ends. In this form of slider, the pulltab 21, lug 22 and spring 29 are similar to those parts of the above described telescopic embodiment of Figs. l-l0.

The front plate or wing 23a is generally similar to the above described plate or wing member 23 but is of greater length and terminates at its upper end in a pair of rearwardly extending transversely spaced hinge forming lugs or lug portions 53 forming therebetween a crotch or space accommodating the latch or trigger member 40a which is functionally similar to the member 40 described above, but which differs therefrom in certain particulars as will appear hereinafter.

The rear or back plate or Wing 24a is likewise generally similar to the above described plate or wing 24 though of greater length and terminates at its upper end in a forwardly directed hinge forming lug or lug forming portion 54 adapted to be disposed in close fitting engagement with said spaced lugs or lug portions 53 in the crotch therebetween as shown in Fig. 13. Complementary, aligned bores are provided in the lugs 53, 54, for supporting the hinge pin 55 as also shown in Fig. 13.

The wedge or neck forming means of the slider of Figs. 11-16, generally designated 25a (Figs. 12 and 15) is of hollow form generally similar to the female sleeve or socket forming member 30 described above andshown inFig. 6, with the wall 33 omitted therefrom, andv likewise. integral with the rearwing or wing. member. 24a which, is provided with an aperture 32a substantially coextensive with the cross-sectional area thereof to permit housing of the triggermember 40a and spring 29 as shown inFigs. 12, and 16. As shown in Figs. 12 and- 15, the upper and forward portions of the sidewalls 56 thereof are cut away to accommodate aligned wall portions 57 (Figs. 12, 15 and 16) integral with and extending rearwardly from the front wing 23a. In-the operative position of the-slider parts (Fig. 12), the parts 56 and 57 are firmly engaged toimpart extreme rigidity to the slider. Inthereleased position (Fig. 16) these wall portions aid inretaining the spring member 29 in proper position or location while protecting the spring from contact with the fastener members or scoops l9.

Extending transversely between these wall portions 57, upwardly of the pull tab supporting lug 22 is the integral transverse wall portion 58' which also aids in retaining the forward end portion of the spring member 29 in desired placement or position. The transverse wall or wall portion 58 is provided with three steps 59, 6t) and 61 (Figs. 12 and 15) which cooperate with a tooth 66 on the member 49a (hereinafter described) to define the predetermined relative spacings or spaced positions of the wings 23a and 24a as will hereinafter appear.

Except for variation in its dimensions, the spring 29 in the embodiment of Figs. 11l6 is similar to the spring 29 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-10. However, since the hinged relation of the wings 23a and 24a exerts a bending effect or stress upon spring 29 in the released positions of the slider, a boss or projection 62 surrounded by an annular recess 63 is provided on, and in, the front wing 23a for supporting the forward end of the spring 29 while asimilar boss or projection 64 supports the opposite or inner end portion of the spring 2& as shown in Figs. 12 and 15.

The boss or projection 64 is formed integrally on the spring engaging head 42 of the longitudinally extending leg of the latch or trigger member 4% which, like the above described trigger member 40, is provided with a transverse bore 41a corresponding with the bore 41 of member 40 which receives the trigger pivot pin 65 which corresponds with the above described pivot pin 37.

The forwardly projecting portion or leg 43a (corresponding with the leg 43) is provided with a single tooth 66, mentioned above, which is selectively engageable with the above described outer step 59 to define the operative relative position or spacing of the wings (Fig. 12), with the innermost step 61 to define the extreme released wing spacing (Fig. 15 or with the intermediate step 60 to define an intermediate wing spacing corresponding with that illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and described above.

Inasmuch as the entire inner end portion as well as the major part of the intermediate portion of the latch or trigger member 40a are housed within the hollow neck forming means 25a, its dimensions are appropriately reduced as compared with those of the telescopic embodiment illustrated in Figs. l-lO inclusive. While knurling is not shown on the member Mia, such knurling as that designatedd-S in Figs. 2, 4, 68 may be provided if desired.

In a variation (not shown) of the form or embodiment shown. in Figs. 1--l0 and described above, the projection 42aand recess 521; or their equivalents may be omitted permittingthe trigger member 46' to swing without limitation in a clockwise arc whereby the wings 23 and 24 under the force of spring 29 may move freely apart to complete separation from one another and, with the other slider parts, from the fastener stringers. The same effect may be achieved by omitting the innermost step or which normally engages the tooth 66 in the slider of Figs. lll6 to limit separation of the wings 23a, 24a thereof.

It is, of course, to be understood that the slider constructions herein shown and described are merely illustrative. of the application of theprinciplesof this invention 8 to. two. welL. known types of non-locking slidersforone formflof slide operatedinterdigitating separable. locking sliders of both automatic and manual lockingtypes, and for other typesof fasteners, such, for instance, as those having scoopsof widely varying types of those having continuous strip like interlocking portions extruded with, or. attached to, the stringers which support the slider. Likewise, while. the integral nature of the wings and neck orwedgeforming members shown would naturally suggest molding or die casting as a methodof-manufacture, it is contemplated thatany other suitable known methods of manufacture may be used such as blanking, stamping, coining etc., to accommodate the particular material's fabricated. The materials may, of course, be suitable metalsQnon-metallic plastic materials or combinations to form any or all parts of the slider (except the spring when such comprises the biasing or loading means), or any and/or more of the parts or components of the slider;

It is, likewise, to be understood that the above description is merely illustrative, and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications asare included within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a releasable slider for slide fasteners including pairs of stringers comprising tapes having interlocking fastener members extending therealong for supporting said slider and progressively engageable and disengage able thereby for closing and opening said fastener, a slider body comprising a pair of obverse wing members having complementary flanges forming the major portion of a fastener member guide channel of predetermined size in the operative position of said wing members, pull means secured to said slider body for moving said slider body along saidfastener members for engaging and disengaging said fastener m embers and control means nor mally locking said wing members in operative position with the guide channel formed thereby relatively closely engaging fastener members therein but manually operable independently of said pull means to release said wing members from operative position for enlargement of the fastener member guide channel, said control means in; cluding an arm-like member arranged substantially perpendicular to said wings having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of said wing members and which is adapted for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to said wings, a shoulder arranged on the other of said wing members adjacent the opposite end of said arm-like member, said arm-like member having a shoulder carried thereby adjacent said opposite end thereof'which co-operates with said last mentioned shoulder carried by said wing member so as to define at least one relative spread position of said wings beyond the operative position thereof and acting automatically upon each manual actuation to effect a release openation to limit the wing expansion to a predetermined step.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, said arm-like member having a plurality of ofi-set shoulders so as to define a plurality of relative spread positions of said wings beyond the operative position thereof whereby said channel may be enlarged with retention of said slider on a supporting slide fastener or further enlarged for removal of said slider from the fastener.

3. The structure definedin claim 2, said wing members being hingedly connected adjacent the end opposite the end portion having flanges thereon.

4. The structure defined in claim 2, said wing members being connected adjacent the end opposite said flanges by a telescopic wedge forming connection cooperating with the flanges on said wing members to form an upwardly diverging fastener member guide channel.

5-. The structure defined in claim 4, including a compression. spring housed within saidtelescopic wedge forming connection with one end thereof directly engaging 9 said arm-like member for yieldably urging said wing members apart.

6. The structure defined in claim 2, said wing members being connected adjacent the end opposite the flanged end portions by a wedge forming hinge connection cooperating with the wing flanges to form an upwardly diverging fastener member guide channel, and including a compression spring housed within said wedge forming hinge connection with one end thereof in direct engagement with said arm-like member for yieldably urging said wing members apart.

7. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described comprising overlying spaced-apart wings, and means connecting said wings together at one end thereof and providing substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction substantially normal thereto comprising an inwardly extending stud-like portion carried by one of said wings and a socket portion carried by the other of said wings with which stud-like portion engages, and a movable arm-like member positioned in openings injsaid wings adjacent said stud-like and socket portions, said arm-like member disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said wings and pivotally attached to one of said wings and extending up through an opening in the other of said wings, engageable means carried by the other of said wings adjacent the opposite free end of said arm-like member adjacent said opening, means carried by said arm-like member adjacent the free end thereof which co-operates with the engageable means carried by the other of said wings for maintaining the same normally in spaced parallel operating relation but permitting them to move apart when said arm-like member is actuated so as to assume another parallel position having a predetermined space therebetween.

8. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 7, including resilient means yieldably urging said wings toward at least one other position for increasing the distance therebetween when said arm-like member is actuated.

9. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 7, including a pull member carried by one of said wings, said arm-like member having a portion extending above the plane of the top surface of said last mentioned wing with which said pull member co-operates to release said armlike member when the pull member is moved to an extreme position substantially parallel to said Wings.

10. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described comprising overlying spaced wings, means connecting said wings together at one end thereof so as to be movable relative to one another, said connecting means including an inwardly extending portion carried by one of said wings which co-operates with and engages a corresponding inwardly extending portion carried by the other of said wings so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel between said wings, an arm-like member arranged for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to said wings and having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of said wings and extending up through an opening in the other of said wings, engageable means carried by said last mentioned wing adjacent said opening and the free end of said arm-like member, means carried by said armlike member adjacent the opposite free end thereof which cooperates with said engageable means carried by said other wing for maintaining said wings in their proper spaced operating relation and which cooperates with another means carried by said other wing adjacent said opening therein for permitting said wings to be spread apart a predetermined distance to another spaced-apart position.

11. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 10, wherein the means carried by the arm-like member for permitting the wings to be spread apart to one of two predetermined spaced positions consists of a pair of shoulders carried by said arm-like member which coop- 10 erate with a corresponding pair of shoulders arranged on said other wing adjacent the opening therein.

12. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 10, including a spring member which is adapted to urge and maintain said arm-like member in its latched position and adapted to spread the slider wings apart when the arm-like member is actuated.

13. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 10, including a pull member pivotally attached to said other wing for actuating said slider and means carried by said pull member which cooperates with the free end of said arm-like member for actuating the same.

14. In a slider for slide fasteners of the class described, a pair of overlying spaced wings, means connecting said wings movably together at one end thereof, said connecting means including an inwardly extending portion carried by one of said wings which cooperates with and engages a corresponding inwardly extending portion carried by the other of said wings so as to provide substantially a Y- shaped channel between said wings, arm-like member arranged substantially perpendicular to said wings having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of said wings adjacent said connecting means and which is adapted for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to said wings, a shoulder carried by the other of said wings adjacent the opposite end of said arm-like member, said arm-like member having a shoulder carried thereby adjacent the opposite free end thereof which cooperates with said last mentioned shoulder carried by the other of said wings to maintain said wings in a predetermined spaced relation, the free end of said arm-like member extending beyond said last mentioned wing and having means carried thereby for actuating said arm-like member.

15. In a slider for slide fasteners, the combination as defined in claim 14, including a pull member pivotally attached to said last mentioned wing having means carried thereby which cooperates with said means on the free end of said arm-like member when said pull member is disposed in one of its extreme positions substantially parallel to the wings whereby the arm-like member will be moved about its pivotal connection and permit the wings to move apart from one another to a predetermined spaced position.

16. In a slide fastener slider of the class described, a pair of complementary wing members normally form ing a slide fastener scoop guide channel therebetween, manually engageable locking means including an arm-like member arranged substantially perpendicular to said wings having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of said wing members and which is adapted for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to said wings, a plurality of shoulders arranged on the other of said wing members adjacent the opposite end of said arm-like member, said arm-like member having a plurality of shoulders carried thereby adjacent the opposite end thereof which cooperate with the shoulders carried by said wing member for normally locking said wing members in said guide channel forming position, and means yieldingly urging said wing members apart, said arm-like member being manually operable to release said members from said locked guide channel forming position for automatic spreading of said members to enlarge the scoop guide channel.

17. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described, comprising overlying spaced wings, means connecting said wings together at one end thereof so as to be movable relative to one another, said connecting means including an inwardly extending portion carried by one of said wings which cooperates with and engages a corresponding inwardly extending portion carried by the other of said wings so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel between said wings, an arm-like member having one end thereof pivotally attached to one of said wing members adjacent said interengaging portions, and disposed in a plane perpendicular to said wings, a shoulder arranged on the ether of sa d ing. m mb r a j cent he. ppo end of said arm-like member, saidarm-like member having Should ,ca dther y whichwperates wi h i last mentioned shoulder carried by said other wing member so. as to maintain said wings in their proper spaced operating relation.

18. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 17, including a pull member attached to the outer side of said last, mentioned wing having means carried thereby for. actuating said arm-like member when said pull mernber isdisposed-in one of its extreme positions substantially parallel to the wings whereby the wings will be permitted to mov e apart from one another,

19, A slider for slide fasteners of the class described, comprising a pair of spaced-apart parallel wings, mean-5 arranged-at one end-of'said wings connecting them movably, together, relative to one another so as to provide a I -shaped channel therebetween, said connecting means including an inwardly projecting stud-like portion carried by one of said wings, the other of said wings having a socket arranged therein conforming to and in which said stnd-like lportion is disposed, an arm-like member arranged substantially perpendicular to said wings having one, endthereof pivotally attached; to one of said-Wings adjacent said interengaging portions and; extending up through an opening in the other wing with the free end thereof disposed beyond said other. wing and which is adapted for movement in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said wings, a shoulder. arranged on said l-astmentioned wing adjacent the opposite free end of said'armlike member, said arm-like member having a shoulder carried thereby which cooperates with saidlast mentioned shoulder carried by saidother wingaso as to maintain said wings in their proper spaced operating, relation.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 236,024 Lange Oct. 2, 1883 1,049,642 Baesel Jan. 7, 19.13 2,111,004 Pruzan Mar. 15, 1938 2,227,766 Sico Jan. 741941 2,366,797 Legat J an. 9, 1945 2,486,401 Gerstman Nov 1, 1949 2,520,496 Deutschf Aug. 29, 1950 2,590,106 Lackritz Mar. 25, 1 952 2,671,258 Lackritz Mar. 9,1954 

